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Nurse

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

(nourish). Position of importance and honor among Hebrews (Gen. 24:59; 35:8⁵⁹And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men. (Genesis 24:59)
⁸But Deborah Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried beneath Beth-el under an oak: and the name of it was called Allon-bachuth. (Genesis 35:8); 2 Sam. 4:4⁴And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth. (2 Samuel 4:4)).

Concise Bible Dictionary:

Such in Old Testament times were held in esteem, as was Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse (Gen. 35:8⁸But Deborah Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried beneath Beth-el under an oak: and the name of it was called Allon-bachuth. (Genesis 35:8)). Twice the expression, “nursing fathers,” occurs, and queens are to be “nursing mothers” to Israel in the future (Num. 11:12¹²Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers? (Numbers 11:12); Isa. 49:23²³And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me. (Isaiah 49:23)). Paul said, “We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children” (1 Thess. 2:7⁷But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: (1 Thessalonians 2:7)).

From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

Genesis 24:59⁵⁹And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men. (Genesis 24:59). They sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse.

In an Eastern family the nurse is a very important personage. She is esteemed almost as a parent; and, accompanying the bride to her new home, there remains with her. She becomes the adviser, the assistant, and the friend of the bride. To the nurse, as to a mother, the bride will confide her greatest secrets. Thus Rebekah took with her on her long journey to her future home the nurse who had cared for her since childhood, so that, besides the female servants she took with her (vs. 61), she might have one intimate familiar friend among strangers.

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